Job summary
NHS Band 7 Salary: £49,387 - £56,515 per annum
Hours Per Week: Full Time, 37.5
Contract Type: Permanent

We are seeking an enthusiastic, experienced and forward thinking HCPC registered Biomedical or Clinical Scientist to lead our Point of Care Testing (POCT) service across a large University NHS Hospital Trust.

This is an exiting opportunity to lead a growing and technologically advanced POCT service that supports thousands of patients every day across emergency, acute, outpatient and community settings, including a number of remote Renal Dialysis Centres. Working alongside a Band 6 POCT Biomedical Scientist, you will be responsible for the operational management, governance and strategic development of a diverse portfolio of POCT devices located across the Trust's main hospital site and multiple satellite locations.

Main duties of the job
The Trust operates a comprehensive POCT service incorporating a wide range of analysers and devices including:

• Radiometer ABL90 Flex blood gas analysers across Emergency Care Departments, Critical Care, Theatres and other acute clinical areas.
• Cepheid GeneXpert molecular analysers supporting rapid diagnostic pathways within the Emergency Departments and other specialist services.
• Newly implemented Nova StatStrip 2 and Nova StatStrip Xpress glucose and ketone monitoring systems.
• A wide variety of additional POCT analysers and devices deployed throughout inpatient wards, outpatient departments, specialist services and remote community based sites.

The POCT service continues to expand in line with new clinical pathways, technological developments and service transformation initiatives.

The successful candidate will play a pivotal role in ensuring that POCT services remain safe, compliant, reliable and responsive to the needs of clinicians and patients. You will work closely with laboratory services, clinical teams, nursing staff, medical colleagues, procurement services, Trust IT & Digital Teams and equipment manufacturers to deliver high a high quality POCT service that meets national standards and supports excellent patient care.

About us
Here at Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust, we are proud to provide expert, compassionate care for our local population. We are ranked as the third in the country for research, embedding education and training across the organisation. Our main hub is the Queen Alexandra Hospital, which is one of the largest hospitals on the south coast employing over 8,700 staff.

Our patients come from all walks of life and so do we. We hire great people from a wide variety of backgrounds because it makes our hospital stronger. If you share our values and our enthusiasm for getting it right for patients, colleagues, and our community, you will find a home at Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust.

Job responsibilities
As the POCT Coordinator you will:

• Lead the operational delivery of the Trust-wide POCT service.
• Provide professional leadership and day-to-day management of the POCT team.
• Maintain governance, quality assurance and quality management systems across all POCT locations.
• Develop, review and implement POCT policies, procedures and standard operating procedures.
• Oversee internal quality control, external quality control assessment and audit programmes.
• Lead investigations into quality incidents, equipment failures and non-conformances.
• Manage POCT equipment implementation, validation, verification and replacement programmes.
• Act as Trust expert for POCT, providing specialist advice to clinicians and senior managers.
• Deliver education, competency assessment and ongoing training for clinical users.
• Participate in service improvement, innovation and research projects where appropriate.
• Support development of business cases for new POCT services and emerging technologies.

Qualifications
Essential

• BSc (Hons) or equivalent in Biomedical Sciences.
• Registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).
• MSc in Biomedical Science or FIBMS.

Desirable

• Evidence of formal management training.

Experience
Essential

• Significant experience working in a diagnostic laboratory setting.
• Demonstrable practical experience as a Specialist Biomedical Scientist.
• Be able to demonstrate a broad level of specialist knowledge and practical experience in Point of Care Testing.
• Experience with supervising, supporting, training and supervision of staff.

Desirable

• Evidence of continuing professional development, especially within the field of POCT.

Skills and Knowledge
Essential

• Ability to use highly complex automated equipment.
• Ability to maintain standards of accuracy and hand to eye coordination.
• Ability to work in a methodical and organised manner.
• Ability to undertake the technical verification of assays, reagents and equipment.
• Excellent communication (verbal and written) and interpersonal skills.
• The ability to work using own initiative and without supervision.
• Interpretation of diagnostic laboratory results.
• A knowledge of Health and Safety legislation and procedures
• Evidence of coaching and counselling skills.
• Experience of change management within a large complex organisation.
• Awareness of laboratory Quality Management Systems.
• Good general Microsoft ICT skills.
• Problem Solving skills.

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.